Option for Formatting At-Risk Resources

At-Risk Youth Overview

Programs for at-risk individuals are easier than some think because they often want the same things everyone else wants: to be included, seen, and heard. What they often need most is access to and/or information about how to gain access to resources.

A useful resource would be to partner with the local social services office to have a social worker regularly present.

You can bring the library to where this population needs them either through having a volunteer regularly visit or by setting up a permanent small library on site that is not tracked but regularly restocked, assuming that some materials will go missing over time.

At-risk youths experience unique needs which can vary depending on their age.

Needs such as

· Health issues, both physical and mental

· Help regarding abusive relationships

· Where/how to supplement a proper/nutritional diet

· Developmental needs for those under the age of 5

· Hygiene

· Help with academia

· Potential issues with substance abuse

Engagement is key with these at-risk populations, particularly the youths. It is all about connecting. But how can you connect effectively?

· Trust is the foundation of any relationship

· With trust, comes a feeling of safety

· Be respectful and accepting, showing that you see, hear, and care

· Boundaries also need respect

· Show cultural humility

· Work to fix the imbalance of power between you and the youth

Organizations Advocating for At-Risk Youth

LibGuides: Services to New Immigrants: Overview

Public libraries in the United States have a long history of providing resources and education to immigrants. This libguide was produced by the American Library Association (ALA) provides a variety of resources that can help support the needs of immigrants and refugees.

Extending Our Reach: Reducing Homelessness Through Library EngagementEssential Library Services for People who are Homeless Libraries will be most successful in providing those services aligned with the general mission and purpose of libraries. For all of the other ideas of how to help those experiencing homelessness — food, clothing, personal or medical care — libraries can play an important role as partners or supporters of other service organizations. Programming Library programming is a popular service for all patrons.

Libraries Respond: Immigrants, refugees, and Asylum Seekers

https://www.alastore.ala.org/content/stories-we-share-guide-prek%E2%80%9312-books-experience-immigrant-children-and-teens-united-states

refugeelibraries.org/

Libraries Serve Refugees

This is an effort to bring together a collection of resources and assets to help libraries better serve refugees. It brings together resources, stories, and best practices from libraries across the country. You can find toolkits on various subjects including culturally responsive approaches. It also includes links to government resources on refugee resettlement statistics and information on processes. Topics include advocacy, employment, government agencies, health, legal aid, learning English, and youth and family. The site is sponsored by Urban Libraries Unite, a professional group that aims to build community-centered libraries.

Refugee TraumaMany refugees, especially children, have experienced trauma related to war or persecution that may affect their mental and physical health long after the events have occurred.

The National Health Care for the Homeless Council

The National Health Care for the Homeless Council is the premier national organization working at the nexus of homelessness and health care. Grounded in human rights and social justice, the NHCHC mission is to build an equitable, high-quality health care system through training, research, and advocacy in the movement to end homelessness. This page provides a list of publications and resources to learn how to tailor services to children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Resources for Public Libraries Serving Persons Experiencing HomelessnessAccording to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2016 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), on a single night in January 2016, 549,928 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States. This population includes men, women, children, and families. They face a wide range of challenges including lack of affordable housing, employment opportunities, healthcare, and other needed services. As many public librarians know, with no safety net to speak of, homeless citizens often turn to the library for help.

Serving Youth Experiencing HomelessnessYouth homelessness is increasing and teens who are homeless have a myriad of challenges to overcome. While the problem of teen homelessness is complicated, public libraries are finding ways to reach out and provide safe, positive programs as well as connect teens with services they need. How many youth are homeless and why? During the 2013-14 school year, there were 1,360,747 documented students who were experiencing homelessness, and this number has risen steadily from 795,054 in the 2007-08 school year.1 Other estimates put the number of young people experiencing homelessness at 1.7 million, making up 39% of the overall homeless population.2 While many children and youth are with their families, in 2014, more than 45,000 were unaccompanied.3

Resources for Homeless and Runaway Youth

youth.gov is the U.S. government website that helps you create, maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs. Included are youth facts, funding information, and tools to help you assess community assets, generate maps of local and federal resources, search for evidence-based youth programs, and keep up-to-date on the latest, youth-related news.

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